Oh goodie, what a big day. While most of us are still contemplating whether to get the Sony Reader or iRex iLiad, Hitachi silently emerges from their dugout and announces the Albirey eBook reader display (remains to be seen if this device can be used as a dedicated e-book reader). Details are still scarce, but Engadget was able to decipher a Japanese report and discovered that the reader is not based on E Ink technology but on technology from Bridgestone. Like the iLiad, it also features WiFi 802.11b connectivity. No further info available, at least nothing that could be described as meaningful.

Edit: I believe the screen is only two-scale, black and white, with a color version expected to arrive in 2007.

Edit 2: Discoverd this PDF (in Japanese) describing the reader and also the distribution system. Anyone familiar with the language care to translate for us?

Edit 3: Daniel sent in more details (thanks!):

Measurement: 222.6×289.2×3.7mm

CPU: H8S/2215 (16bit/16MHz)

Memory: Flash 8MB

Power: Lithium polymer (3.7V)

Display size: 13.1", 2-scale monochrome

Resolution: XGA (1024×768 dot)

Contrast: 1:7

WiFi: IEEE802.11b

So what do you think, will this change your decision which e-book reader to buy next?

Looking at the stats and the missing controls (nice find, CommanderROR!), I believe this device is not meant to be an e-book reader. Even though, the screen size is amazing (13.1"!!!!!).

I think that's true. According to another article from IT PLUS, Hitachi was working on a field test at the Tokyo Station, from December 2005 to February 14 2006. They were using the device as a bulletin stand, set on a waiting room. The display was updated every 5 minutes, showing the latest news, forecast, and ads. It was 6mm thick, had a small sized battery and memory inside, and received the data via Wi-Fi, from a sever based at a nearby kiosk.

Bridgestone says that their technology isn't reserved only for Hitachi, but is open to other companies as well. I'm just waiting for some other company to use this panel, and make a product for the consumer market.

I would think that the iLiad stays ahead of any product developed from this display.
1. Screen resolution of the iLiad is the same so it probably does not look as well on closeup because the individual pixels have to be bigger.
2. iLiad is already graysscale which means it can implement antialiasing for fonts.
3. Adding controls to it would make it even bigger. Too big for easy carrying.